BWCA Portage 538 (Thomas to Cacabic)

Definitely a significant portage with a couple of tight climbs/descents that can be difficult while carrying a canoe. There were a couple of wet bogs where ferrying gear was the best option. North landing is a nice sand beach, great spot to take a break and enjoy the view of Thomas. South landing was mucky and tight but could be easier in a year with higher water. It's a long one but if you're accustomed to backpacking it's not gonna be too difficult. The reward of getting onto Alice and claiming any of the camps on that wonderful lake makes any struggle on this portage worth the while. Even better if you can take some time to appreciate the varied flora and landscape of the trail.

Unless something changes, one should consider this as 2 portages, not 1. Roughly at the half-way point in the portage is a waterway that is not long, maybe 50 feet. This water stretch is maybe waist deep at its deepest (our group did not try to measure it). So one has to put the canoe in the water, load up, paddle/pole across, then start the portage process again. The stretch from Thomas to the mid-way point is OK, maybe a little up-and down but not bad. The stretch from mid-way to Cacabic is very straight forward except for another boggy area where care must be taken to avoid getting a mud bath.

After a fairly rainy spring, we ended up canoeing across a small (150ft?) section of this portage - ferrying people and equipment. We could have walked it, but there were spots that would have easily been thigh deep for an adult. Made for a great photo op.

The group I was guiding had much difficulty with this one for some reason. It's long and there was plenty of water. Two stretches sent me in over my knees, but we had a lot of rain leading up to our trip.

Long but in good shape. It took us 45 minutes to double portage. Nice landings on both sides.